Electric cooling may now be possible

[IDIeselman]

Flex-a-lite says you can recover 27hp, boost fuel mileage by 6 % increase torque and improve A/C performance by eliminating your stock clutch fan assembly. Made for the 94-02 cummins but I'm sure we can adapt. 37 1/4" x20 1/4 x4 1/4 pulls 5500 CFM and draws 28-36 amps variable speed control module independently operates the fans from 60-100% depending on engine temp and A/C activation. Anyone have any ideas about this dead horse?

 

[swampdigger]

Maybe if you're replacing a mechanical fan without a clutch. But not a clutch fan with in good shape.

A common misconception is that running electrical things frees up engine power--it doesn't, because it places a greater load on your alternator.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

More power good.
The problem I have experienced with my Ranger using an electric fan is the alternator is working it's **** off. I've killed 2 so far even using the 125 amp GM 1 wire setup with a 1100 CCA battery.
If'n memory serves me correct, it drew around the 30 amp mark and ran frequently. BUT keep in mind that little Windsor was a heat monster and ran hot ~ 220 ish.

Just my experience with em.

 

[swampdigger]

....a Windsor, in a Ranger? Nice! Do you frequent any Ranger forums?

 

[jauguston]

When you see electric fans on rigs like ours coming off the assembly line of new truck manufacturers you will know that the technology has been proven to be more efficient than the present mechanical fan with a thermostaticly controlled clutch. Until then it is just marketing BS.

Jim

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

....a Windsor, in a Ranger? Nice! Do you frequent any Ranger forums?

Thanks.
Never have.
I built this beast bout 10 years ago before any kits were made available to do the conversion and it hasn't been run in 3 years due to alternator fouled cooling issues.
The fan installed on it is an 18 inch variable temp adjustable setup, relay and all.
I can't recall the manufacturer but it can move some air. Definitly wouldn't be enough for the IDI's tho.

 

[Ironman03R]

Kinda off topic, but how about useing a plastic fan and clutch off a powerstroke? If the water pumps are the same rotation and thread it might work.

 

[jauguston]

Why try to reinvent the wheel (-:

The stock cooling system is well designed and will cool the engine just fine in all normal conditions. If it won't there is something wrong.

Jim

 

[IDIeselman]

MORE POWER That's why, Who cares about cooling?

 

[jauguston]

There is no way to eliminate the power needed to cool the engine. It is either going to come from the belt that turns the fan or it is going to come from the belt that turns the alternator. The power required to cool the engine is not going to change.

Jim

 

[93turbo_animal]

Theres no way an altenator will require as much power even at full load that our fans do and to prove that just try and turn our fan at speed with that same little motor they use to test alts. at your parts store. also now most of the underdrive kits which promote power gains by slowing down accesories have started making the alt. pulley so it still turns the same RPMs cause there was not enough power gain to off set the loss of electric power

 

[Agnem]

The battery is also an engine as far as the electric fan is concerned, so if the fan is on a thermostat, yes the engine will have to put energy out to charge the battery, but that is a lower amount of power potentially over a longer time, while the mechanical fan is big draw on power for a shorter time (usually going up a hill when you really need the power). So, one of the attractions of an electric fan, is yes, a reduced engine load at least over the short term. In my case, I'm interested in moving the radiator back to fit an intercooler in front of it, and a lot of electric fans offer a thinner profile than the mechanical setup, so there is another reason to try to go electric. There is no disputing the factory cooling system is adaquate, it's just not necessarily the best compromise for a given situation.

 

[tuckerd1]

I like the idea. Would you need the Leece/Neville 165 amp alternator?

Here is a PSD 6000 cfm fan that is approx. the size of our radiators.

Or here is a 27", 4500 cfm fan for 80-96 F-Series trucks.

 

[sle2115]

Theres no way an altenator will require as much power even at full load that our fans do and to prove that just try and turn our fan at speed with that same little motor they use to test alts. at your parts store. also now most of the underdrive kits which promote power gains by slowing down accesories have started making the alt. pulley so it still turns the same RPMs cause there was not enough power gain to off set the loss of electric power

I typed up a big post about a dyno test we did, then deleted it...the gist was simply that an electric fan to move equal amounts of air, generally use about 1/2 the horsepower or less.

 

[jauguston]

2115,

Where did you find a electric fan that can produce the same CFM as the stock fan? And before you answer that where can we find the CFM rating for the stock fan and its power comsumption that you must have to make that comparison?

Jim